Building Services

Building Permits - Commercial or Residential
See Fee Schedules (PDF) for permit fees. A permit is generally needed to:

Construct or alter a structure

Demolish or move a structure

Install or alter any equipment which is regulated by the Harford County Code

Make a change of use

Place a structure

Application can be made at the Harford County Administrative Office Building, Permit Center, 220 South Main Street (1st floor), Bel Air, Maryland or download the application here. Call 410-638-3122 for more information.

Construction must begin within 12 months of approval date. If work does not progress for 6 months after initial construction start-up, permit is declared invalid.

Residential Building Plan Review Requirements
Residential building plan review requires the following: Construction drawings are required to obtain a building permit for the following projects.

Decks: The information and deck fill in the blank form provided at this website are adequate

Additions, renovations, and remodeling, require a foot print of the affected areas; to include where and how attached to the existing structure

Floor plans should contain room sizes, identify the room use and locations of windows and doors

Structural details shall identify all framing members along with beam, header sizes and their locations within the affected areas (This can be accomplished on the floor plan and in a cross section)

Drawings should be to scale whenever possible (They must contain accurate dimensions)

Site plan shall be provided showing where attached to dwelling and all set backs from property lines as well as all easements

New Home Plans shall include the following information:

Footing and foundation plan

Floor plan for all floor levels and wall locations, room sizes and window and door locations (Information identifying all structural members and locations shall be shown on the floor plan)

MHIC Contractors
Licensed contractors applying for a building permit under 600 square feet will be required to answer questions during a counter review. It is suggested drawings be available at this time.

Manufactured Housing or Mobile home building permit - Please call 410-638-3385 for more information (also see Fee Schedules (PDF) for permit fees).

Abandoned Buildings/Unsafe Structures - Please call 410-638-3385.

Landlord/Tenant Complaint - Within a mobile home park - please call 410-638-3385. If a rental property - contact the Housing Agency at 410-638-3045.

Refunds
Where no work has been done under a permit issued, the holder of the permit may deliver the permit to the Permit Center, 220 South Main Street (1st floor), Bel Air, Maryland, and upon cancellation thereof, shall be refunded 50% of the fee paid provided that application for the refund is made within 6 months of the issuance of the permit.

Please call 410-638-3122 for more information relative to building permits.Application can be made at the Harford County Administrative Office Building, Permit Center, 220 South Main Street (1st floor), Bel Air, Maryland. Call 410-638-3122 for more information.